Democrat Amy Acton Defeats Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio Governor’s Race

Ohioans have elected Democrat Amy Acton as their next governor, defeating Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy in a contentious race that gained national attention due to a controversial attack ad. Dr. Acton, who previously served as the state's health department director during the COVID-19 pandemic, secured 50.8% of the votes with 86% of votes counted, according to the Associated Press. In contrast, Ramaswamy, supported by former President Donald Trump, garnered 45.9% of the vote.

The election, initially rated as a "Lean Republican" by the Cook Political Report and later changed to "Toss Up," saw a significant shift in the final days. This change was attributed to the release of an attack ad by Ramaswamy's campaign, which featured Acton's estranged mother. The ad depicted her as the individual who lost custody of Acton and her brother in 1978, the same year their stepfather was indicted for raping Acton when she was a child. This ad sparked widespread controversy and backlash across the political spectrum.

Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, called the ad "a despicable low," expressing shock at Ramaswamy's attempt to use the sexual abuse Acton suffered at age twelve as a political tactic. The current Republican governor, Mike DeWine, condemned the ad as "deeply, deeply troubling" and "just plain wrong," urging his opponent's campaign to retract it. However, DeWine maintained his endorsement of Ramaswamy and the entire Republican ticket.

Despite the backlash, Ramaswamy stood by the controversial ad, with both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance defending him after the outcry.